Vehicle with adjustable height wheel and fender therefor

ABSTRACT

A vehicle arranged for raising and lowering the frame relative to the ground wheels for loading comprises a vehicle frame with a hitch at a forward end of the frame and at least two ground wheels for supporting the frame for movement across the ground. Each wheel has a mounting assembly providing driven rotation of a hub carrying the wheel spindle from a raised height of the wheel to a lower locked position. The hub is driven by a hydraulic motor driving a pinion. A fender is mounted on the vehicle frame for covering the wheel during transport, the fender including two interlocking portions thereof which are spring mounted so as to be movable relative to the wheel to accommodate the movement of the wheel to the raised position. The frame has a rear portion which is movable rearwardly to adjust the position of the load and the rear portion of the fender can be attached to the rear frame portion so as to be moved away from the wheel with movement thereof.

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser.No. 09/975,313 which is a continuation of application Ser. No.09/369,378 filed Aug. 6, 1999 (now abandoned) which is acontinuation-in-part application of application Ser. No. 09/096,485filed Jun. 10, 1998 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,340 issued Nov. 6, 1999).

[0002] This invention relates to an improved vehicle, which may be selfpropelled or a trailer, with ground wheels which raise and lowerrelative to a frame to allow a bed of the vehicle carrying a load tomove upwardly and downwardly between loading and transport positions andto provide a fender for the wheel or wheels mounted on the frame whichaccommodates the movement of the wheels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Trailers which allow the wheels to be raised and lowered to lowerand raise the trailer bed are well known. In many cases the trailer hasno fenders so that the location and arrangement of the fenders is of noquestion. In other arrangements where a fender is provided, the fenderis generally mounted on the same structure which carries the wheels forpivotal movement with the wheels so that the fenders can remain in thesame close relationship to the wheel when raised for unloading and whenlowered for transport. Examples are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,746,195 ofBeilke issued Jul. 17, 1973, U.S. Pat. No. 4,065,825 of Cohen issuedJan. 3, 1978 and 4,711,499 of Fortin issued Dec. 8, 1987.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] It is one object of the present invention to provide an improvedvehicle with ground wheels which allow a bed of the vehicle carrying aload to move upwardly and downwardly between loading and transportpositions and to provide a fender for the wheel or wheels which ismovable to accommodate the movement of the wheels.

[0005] According to the invention there is provided a vehiclecomprising;

[0006] a vehicle structure including a frame;

[0007] on each side of the frame there being provided at least oneground wheel with the wheels being attached to the frame by a mountingassembly for supporting the frame for movement across the ground;

[0008] each ground wheel being mounted relative to the frame formovement of a wheel axis of the wheel from a first raised position ofthe wheel axis in which the frame is lowered to a position at oradjacent the ground to a second lowered transport position of the wheelaxis in which the frame is raised for transport,

[0009] on each side of the frame there being provided at least onefender mounted on the vehicle frame for covering the at least one wheelduring transport;

[0010] each fender being mounted on the frame such that raising andlowering of the respective wheel causes movement of the wheel relativeto the fender;

[0011] and each fender including at least a fender portion thereof whichis mounted on the frame for pivotal movement relative to the frame toaccommodate the movement of the wheels to the raised position.

[0012] Preferably the fender portion is mounted for pivotal movementabout a generally horizontal axis to move from a lowered transportposition when the wheel is in the transport position thereof upwardlywith the wheel when contacted by the wheel.

[0013] Preferably the fender includes two fender portions divided at aline above the wheel each of which is mounted for pivotal movement abouta respective pivot axis from the transport position.

[0014] Preferably the fender portions include a locking device forlocking the two fender portions together in the transport position.

[0015] Preferably the two fender portions are spring biased into thetransport position.

[0016] Preferably the two fender portions define a front portionpivotally mounted about an axis located in front of the wheel and a rearportion pivotally mounted about an axis located behind the wheel.

[0017] Preferably one or both of the fender portion includes a rollerfor engaging the wheel.

[0018] Preferably the vehicle structure is divided into a front portionand a rear portion, the rear portion being mounted relative to the frontportion for forward and rearward sliding movement between a forwardposition and a rearward position and wherein the fender includes a firstfender portion mounted on the front portion and a second fender portionmounted on the rear portion such that the second fender portion ismovable with the rear portion to a position spaced away from the wheelto allow the upward movement of the wheel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] One embodiment of the invention will now be described inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0020]FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the vehicle according to the presentinvention with one side portion of the frame and the associated wheelthereon omitted for convenience of illustration.

[0021]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a center portion only of the frame ofFIG. 1 showing the frame in an extended position.

[0022]FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the frame portion of FIG. 2.

[0023]FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 2.

[0024]FIG. 5 is a top plan view, partly broken away, of the side portiononly of the frame of FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale showing particularlythe wheel mounting assembly.

[0025]FIG. 6 is view along the lines 6-6 of FIG. 5.

[0026]FIG. 7 is a view along the line 7-7 of FIG. 5 showing the wheelmounting assembly in the first raised position of the wheel axis.

[0027]FIG. 8 is a view similar of FIG. 7 showing the mounting assemblyin the second lowered position of the wheel axis.

[0028]FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a wheel of the trailer of the abovefigures showing a fender for the wheel which is arranged to accommodatethe lifting movement of the wheel.

[0029]FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of the wheel and fender ofFIG. 9 showing the fender in a raised position.

[0030]FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of one part only of the fenderof FIGS. 9 and 10 showing the fender in the normal locked operatingposition.

[0031]FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of a modified arrangement ofthe fender.

[0032]FIG. 13 is a top plan view of a further embodiment of fender foruse with a trailer as shown in the above drawings.

[0033]FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of the fender of FIG. 12.

[0034]FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of the fender similar to FIG.14 on an enlarged scale showing the self locking coupling between thefront and rear parts.

[0035] In the drawings like characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in the different figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] The present invention relates generally to a vehicle which may beself propelled or may be designed as a trailer for attachment to atowing vehicle. The following description relates to a trailer which isa primary but not essential arrangement.

[0037] The frame of the embodiment comprises a first frame portion 10and a second frame portion 11 which can be adjusted from an inwardlyclosed shorter position shown in FIG. 1 to an extended position shown inFIG. 2.

[0038] The first frame portion 10 comprises a first beam 12 and a secondbeam 13 which are parallel and parallel to a direction of longitudinalmovement of the trailer as indicated at 14. The beams 12 and 13 areindicated by a first transverse beam 15 and a second rear transversebeam 17. At the front of the beams 12 and 13 is provided a pair ofinwardly inclined beam portions 18 and 19 which converge to a centralapex at which is provided a hitch pole 20 extending forwardly from theframe for attachment to a towing vehicle.

[0039] The rear or second frame portion comprises a first load supportbeam 21 and a second load support beam 22. Each of first and secondbeams 21, 22 is formed of a first tubular portion 23 of the samedimensions as a tubular portion forming the beam 12,13 and a secondtubular portion of reduced dimensions for sliding inside of the tubularportion defining the beam 12,13. Thus in the retracted position shown inFIG. 1, the end 24 of the portion 23 lies substantially immediatelyadjacent the end 25 of the beam 12. The beam 13 and the correspondingbeam 22 of the second portion of the same construction.

[0040] At the forward end of the smaller beam portion of the rear frameis provided a pair of guide rollers 25, 26 which roll on the insidesurfaces of the top and bottom wall of the beam 12,13 as best shown inFIG. 3.

[0041] At the rear end of the beams 12 and 13 is provided a pair ofrollers 27, 28 which roll on the outside surface of the smaller portionof the beams 21, 22. Thus the smaller portions of the beam 21 and 22 areguided by the pair of rollers as best shown in FIG. 3 for slidingmovement longitudinally of the beams 12,13.

[0042] The longitudinal sliding movement of the rear portion 11 or ofthe front portion 12 is then effected by a cylinder schematicallyindicated at 29 which is connected between a coupling 30 at the rear endof the hitch pole 20 and a coupling 31 on the rear frame portion 11.

[0043] The rear frame 11 further includes a third load support beam 32parallel to and coplanar with the beams 21 and 22. The three beams areconnected by a transverse rear beam 33 defining a rear part of the framewith the rear beam extending outwardly beyond the beams 21 and 22 toform projecting portions 33A and 33B. The third load support beam 32rides on a roller 35 carried on a rear upper part of the transverse beam17. Forwardly of the roller 35, the load support beam 32 splits into twotransverse members 36 and 37 which diverge outwardly in a Y-shape towardthe beams 12 and 13. Adjacent the forward end of each of the transversemembers is provided a horizontal shaft 38 each of which carries a roller39 running within a channel guide track 40 mounted on an inwardly facingsurface of the respective beam 12, 13. Thus the forward end of the thirdbeam is guided by the tracks 40 and is supported against verticalmovement relative to the front frame portion 10. The coupling 31 islocated at the apex between the legs of the Y-shape.

[0044] In this way the rear portion of the frame can be moved from theposition shown in FIG. 1 to the extended position shown in FIG. 2.During this movement the position of the beams of the frame aremaintained in forward position so that the frame remains coplanar and isstructurally sound. In the retracted position shown in FIG. 1, thepointed end of each of the transverse member 36, 37 engages into atriangular receptacle 41 carried on the inwardly facing surface of thebeam 12,13.

[0045] The complete frame section is defined by the front portion 10 andthe rear portion 11 is supplemented by a pair of side frame portiongenerally indicated at 45. The righthand frame as shown in FIG. 1 butthe left hand frame is omitted for convenience of illustration. Eachframe portion comprises a horizontal beam 46 which is supported on therespective beam 12, 13 of the front portion 10 by a pair of inclinedsupport struts 47, 47A. Each of the struts 47, 47A is attached to aplate 48 at its inner end bolted or otherwise fastened to the outsidesurface of the beam 12. Thus the beam 46 is supported at a height raisedfrom the horizontal plane of the main frame. The beam 46 is howeverrigidly attached to the main frame and remains in a fixed positionrelative thereto.

[0046] The frame thus constructed by a pair of wheel assembliesgenerally indicated at 50. Again the right hand wheel assembly is shownin FIG. 1 and the left hand wheel assembly is omitted for convenience ofillustration. It will be appreciated that the frame portion 45 and thewheel 50 of the right is symmetrical relative to the same elements onthe left hand side.

[0047] The wheel assembly 50 comprises a ground wheel 51, a wheelmounting assembly 52, a pivot arm 53 and a leaf spring 54.

[0048] The pivot arm 53 is pivotally connected by a bracket 55 attachedto the beam 1 by a plate 56 intermediate the plate 48. The arm 53 canthus pivot upwardly and downwardly in a suspension movement of the wheelagainst the bias of the spring 54 attached to the beam 46 by couplings54A.

[0049] Other types of suspension can be used depending upon requirementsand the present invention is not limited to the particular type ofsuspension shown and described herein.

[0050] The arm 53 projects beyond its connection to the base of the leafspring 54 and thus provides a support for the wheel mounting 52. Thewheel mounting 52 comprised a first member 60 in the form of asubstantially vertical plate welded or otherwise attached to an outerend 61 of the arm 53 and standing upwardly therefrom so the arm isattached to the bottom of the plate 60. The plate carries a spindle 62projecting forwardly from the plate at a position directly above the armand extending horizontally from the plate when the plate standsvertical. The angle of the plate varies during suspension movement.

[0051] The mounting assembly 52 further includes a hub 63 forming asecond member of the mounting assembly which is movable relative to thefirst member. The hub 63 includes a central ring 64 mounted on thespindle 62 for rotation about a rotation axis 65 defined by the spindle62. The hub 63 carries a spindle 66 for the wheel 51 defining a wheelaxis 67 about which the wheel rotates on the spindle 66. The spindle 66is located at a position spaced from the spindle 62 with the axes 65 and67 substantially parallel.

[0052] The hub 63 includes and outer ring 68 surrounding the axis 65with the outer ring including an inwardly facing gear 69. A pinion 70 ismounted on a shaft 71 extending through the plate 60 and carried therebyon suitable bearings. The shaft 71 is parallel to the axis 65 and drivesthe pinion in rotation about the axis of the shaft so as to drive thegear 69 in rotation around the axis 65. The shaft 71 is driven by ahydraulic motor 72 carried on a support plate 73 attached to the arm 53of a position thereon spaced from the plate 60 and inwardly of thespring 54. The plate 73 is based by a triangular base 74.

[0053] Rotation of the shaft 71 effected by the hydraulic motor 72 thuscauses the pinion to drive the hub 63 around the axis 65 from the firstraised position of the spindle 66 as shown in FIG. 7 to the secondlowered position of the spindle 66 as shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 8.

[0054] In the raised position of the spindle 66 as shown in FIG. 7, thespindle is moved to a top center position directly above the axis 65. Inthis position the wheel 51 is raised relative to the frame. The wheel 51has a diameter arranged such that in the raised position shown in FIG. 7the frame is substantially at or adjacent ground height so that a loadcan be moved directly on to the trailer. The spindle 66 tends to centeritself over the axis 65 due to the loading of the wheel on the hub 63which tend to pull the hub upwardly in rotation relative to the plate60.

[0055] When the trailer is loaded, the motor 72 is actuated to drive theshaft 71 causing the pinion to drive the gear in a direction to causerotation of the hub 63 from the 12 o'clock position illustrated indotted line at 66A in FIG. 6 to the 6:30 position shown in full line inFIG. 6. Thus the spindle 66 in the lowered position goes just beyond thebottom centered position that is slightly over-center until the hub 63engages against a stop 75 carried on the plate 60. Thus the hub 63includes a lobe 76 projecting outwardly to one side of the ring 68 withthe lobe defining a side wall 77 which engages against the stop 75. Thestop forms a surface which is oriented to engage the surface 77 when thelobe moves to the required position holding the spindle 66 at the 6:30position.

[0056] In addition the stop 75 includes an end plate portion 78projecting beyond a front face 79 of the hub 63. The end plate portion78 defines a lip which is in sliding contact with the front face 79 soas to hold that front face against movement away from the plate 60. Thelip 78 thus takes loading from the spindle 62 and insures that excessiveloading on the spindle 66 tending to twist the bottom of the hub awayfrom the plates 60 is resisted by the inter-engagement between the lip78 and the surface 79.

[0057] The trailer therefore the present invention allows the frame ofthe trailer to be lowered to the ground for loading and the frame of thetrailer to be lifted for transport. The lifting action is effected usinghydraulic or electric action without operator involvement in latching orunlatching elements.

[0058] In addition rearward extension of a rear portion of the trailerrelative to a forward portion acts to move the load rearwardly on therear portion to a loading position, with the whole of the frame beingmovable in the vertical direction for the loading action.

[0059] Turning now to FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 there is shown a fender for thetrailer as shown and described above. During upward movement of thewheel for the lowering of the trailer frame to the ground, it isnecessary for the fender to accommodate this upward movement. The normalposition of the fender just above the wheel during transport movement ofthe trailer is necessary to prevent release of water, mud and othermaterials from the road and therefore in the normal position of thetrailer, the fender is closely adjacent the wheel. When the wheel israised, however, the fender must accommodate this movement.

[0060] One technique for accommodating movement is shown in FIGS. 9, 10and 11 wherein there is provided a fender 80 forming two parts 81 and82. The fender is mounted on the frame member 46 and projects outwardlytherefrom over the wheel 83.

[0061] Each fender piece 81, 82 is mounted on a respective one of a pairof pins 84 and 85 mounted on and projecting outwardly from the framemember 46. Thus each fender piece 81, 82 includes a sleeve 86surrounding the respective pin which is attached to the fender portionby any suitable technique such as welding. The sleeve 86 is arranged atthe forward end of the portion 81 and at the rearward end of the portion82. The sleeve can thus rotate around the pin allowing the fenderportion to raise and lower as required. A spring 87 biases the fenderportion into the lowered position.

[0062] The fender portion 81 is the forward portion and extends from thesleeve 86 on the pin 84 to a rearward edge 88 which is chamfered asindicated in FIG. 10.

[0063] The rearward portion 82 has a forward chamfered end 89 whichmatches the chamfered end 88 so that the end 88 rests over the end 89.The sleeve 86 of the portion 82 is arranged at the rearward end andbehind the sleeve is provided a downwardly depending mud flap 90. Eachportion carries a roller 91, 92 which contacts the peripheral surface ofthe wheel as the wheel is raised upwardly so as to push the portionsupwardly as the wheel is raised. The roller is carried on a pin 93projecting inwardly from an outer flange 94 of the fender.

[0064] The fender portions can be locked in place by a pair of lockingmembers 94 and 95 mounted on one edge of the fender, which can be theinside edge, the outside edge or both edges, at the chamfered edges 88and 89. The locking member 94 comprises an upper cap portion carrying adepending pin 96. The lower locking member 95 comprises a sleeve havingan internal bore 97 into which the pin 96 seats. Thus locking memberssnap together in a self locking arrangement as the portions cometogether and are held together during normal operation so that thefender remains as a single unit during travel without a tendency of therear part to open or lift or flap as the wind flows over the fender. Atthe time of raising the wheels, the front portion lifts first so thatthe pin 96 is pulled out of the rear portion to allow both fenderportions to be pushed upwardly as shown in FIG. 10.

[0065] An alternative arrangement is shown in FIG. 12 where the sideframe member 101 carries the fender generally indicated at 102 formed bytwo fender portions 103 and 104 substantially as previously described.In this embodiment the frame member 101 includes an extension portion105 which slides inside the tubular frame member 101 so as to allow theframe member to extend. In this embodiment the front portion 103 ismounted on a sleeve and pin arrangement 107 as previously described. Inthis embodiment the rear portion 104 is fixed on a similar sleeve andpin arrangement as indicated at 108. The sleeve and pin 107 is mountedon the frame members 101. The sleeve and pin 108 is mounted on the framemember 105 and is therefore movable rearwardly as the frame is extendedby pulling out the extension portion 105. The sleeve and pin arrangement108 therefore moves from an initial position as shown at 109 in thenormal operating position of the fender to an extended position as shownat 108. In this embodiment, therefore, instead of the rear portionpivoting upwardly on the spring, the rear portion remains at a fixedheight but is instead moved horizontally away from the position of thewheel 110 allowing the wheel to move upwardly and providing a pushingaction only on the forward portion 103.

[0066] The fender can also be designed for use with a dual or multi axlearrangement in which two or more wheels are arranged each behind thenext. In this arrangement, the length of one or both portions of thefender is increased to accommodate the full area over the wheels.Alternatively a plurality of individual fenders are provided, one foreach wheel.

[0067] In replacement for the pin locking arrangement described andshown above can be provided an alternative self locking arrangementshown in FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 in which the rear edge 201 of the frontportion 202 includes a hooked curved section 203 an outer surface ofwhich engages into a corresponding U-shaped receptacle 204 at the frontedge 205 of the rear portion 206. These are arranged as set forth abovewith the receptacle on the rear section underneath the hook on the frontsection so that the rear section is held down against the tendency tolift in the air flow. Thus both front and rear sections are held down iflifted simultaneously but both are released if the front section islifted first to an amount sufficient to allow the rear section to clearthe front section. However when returning to the lowered position, therear section drops first and then the hook on the front section dropsinto the receptacle on the rear section holding both locked togetherThis self locking arrangement can be used with a single fender for asingle wheel where the two portions meet over the wheel, with a singlefender covering two or more wheels one in front of the other where thetwo portions meet between the wheels and in a double or triple fenderarrangement where each of two or three wheels arranged one in front ofthe other are covered by their own individual fenders. As shown best inFIG. 13, each section is mounted for pivotal movement on a mounting pin207 with a pin base 208 arranged for connection onto the outside surfaceof the trailer, the pins being arranged at the end of the section remotefrom the connection between the sections. The front section is shorterthan the rear section. The front section is substantially flat orstraight and the rear section is arched so that the connection betweenthe sections is located in front of the uppermost apex. Each sectioncarries a respective roller 209 for contacting the wheel as it raises.The rollers are arranged at substantially equal spacing forwardly of andrearwardly of the connection. This location and the shaping of thefender with the arch in the rear section causes the roller of the frontsection, which is lower than the roller of the rear section, to engagethe wheel first so that the front section lifts first clearing the rearsection and allowing the rear section to lift when its roller is engagedby the wheel.

[0068] Since various modifications can be made in my invention as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely different embodiments ofsame made within the spirit and scope of the claims without departingfrom such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained inthe accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative onlyand not in a limiting sense.

1. A vehicle comprising; a vehicle structure including a frame; on eachside of the frame there being provided at least one ground wheel withthe wheels being attached to the frame by a mounting assembly forsupporting the frame for movement across the ground; each ground wheelbeing mounted relative to the frame for movement of a wheel axis of thewheel from a first raised position of the wheel axis in which the frameis lowered to a position at or adjacent the ground to a second loweredtransport position of the wheel axis in which the frame is raised fortransport, on each side of the frame there being provided at least onefender mounted on the vehicle frame for covering the at least one wheelduring transport; each fender being mounted on the frame such thatraising and lowering of the respective wheel causes movement of thewheel relative to the fender; and each fender including at least afender portion thereof which is mounted on the frame for pivotalmovement relative to the frame to accommodate the movement of the atleast one wheel to the raised position.
 2. The vehicle according toclaim 1 wherein the fender portion is mounted for pivotal movement abouta generally horizontal axis at one end of the fender to move from alowered transport position when the wheel is in the transport positionthereof upwardly with the wheel when contacted by the wheel.
 3. Thevehicle according to claim 1 wherein the fender includes two fenderportions divided at a line above the wheel each of which is mounted forpivotal movement about a respective pivot axis at a respective end ofthe fender from the transport position.
 4. The vehicle according toclaim 3 wherein the fender portions include a locking device for lockingthe two fender portions together in the transport position.
 5. Thevehicle according to claim 3 wherein the two fender portions are springbiased into the transport position.
 6. The vehicle according to claim 3wherein the two fender portions define a front portion pivotally mountedabout an axis located in front of the wheel and a rear portion pivotallymounted about an axis located behind the wheel.
 7. The vehicle accordingto claim 1 wherein the fender portion includes a roller for engaging thewheel.
 8. The vehicle according to claim 3 wherein each of the fenderportions includes a roller for engaging the wheel.
 9. The vehicleaccording to claim 3 wherein the front fender portion is arranged to belifted first to release the rear fender portion to lift only whenreleased by the front fender portion.
 10. The vehicle according to claim3 wherein the fender portions cover two wheels one in front of the otherwith the fender portions meeting between the wheels.
 11. The vehicleaccording to claim 3 wherein the fender portions are self locking eachto the other when lowered by lowering of the wheel axis.
 12. The vehicleaccording to claim 1 wherein the vehicle structure is divided into afront portion and a rear portion, the rear portion being mountedrelative to the front portion for forward and rearward sliding movementbetween a forward position and a rearward position and wherein thefender includes a first fender portion mounted on the front portion anda second fender portion mounted on the rear portion such that the secondfender portion is movable with the rear portion to a position spacedaway from the wheel to allow the upward movement of the wheel.
 13. Thevehicle according to claim 12 wherein the first fender portion and thesecond fender portion meet at a position above the at least one wheelwhen the rear frame portion is in the transport position.
 14. Thevehicle according to claim 12 wherein the first fender portion ismounted on the front portion for pivotal movement relative thereto abouta generally horizontal axis to move from a lowered transport positionwhen the at least one wheel is in the transport position thereofupwardly with the wheel when contacted by the at least one wheel. 15.The vehicle according to claim 13 wherein the fender portions include alocking device for locking the two fender portions together in thetransport position.
 16. The vehicle according to claim 12 wherein atleast the first fender portions is spring biased into the transportposition.
 17. The vehicle according to claim 12 wherein the first fenderportion includes a roller for engaging the at least one wheel.